How long does it take to read each book of the bible?

The bible is an ancient collection of 66 books. These books tell the story of generations of people who related with God: the God who humbled Himself to be known– and in so doing changed the course of world history. The bible is the history of the underdog, the outcast, and broken who have encountered the liberating presence of a holy and loving God.

Make time to read the Bible.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

— 2 Timothy 3:16

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 

— Hebrews 4:12

Don’t find a time to read the bible: MAKE TIME. Schedule it on your calendar and label it the book you want to read.

Wondering how long it would take to read the entire bible? Like, literally? Take a look below at average reading times for every book of the bible. Have an hour? You could read the entire book of Nehemiah? Only have 15 minutes to spare? There’s a book for that too: actually 20 of them.

Average Reading Times

Genesis – 3.5h

Exodus – 3h

Leviticus – 2h

Numbers – 3h

Deuteronomy – 2.5h

Joshua – 1.75h

Judges – 1.75h

Ruth – 15m

1 Samuel – 2.25h

2 Samuel – 1.75h

1 Kings – 2h

2 Kings – 2.25h

1 Chronicles – 2h

2 Chronicles – 2.5h

Ezra – 40m

Nehemiah – 1h

Esther – 30m

Job – 1.75 h

Psalms – 5h

Proverbs – 1.75h

Ecclesiastes – 30m

Song of Solomon – 20m

Isaiah – 3.75h

Jeremiah – 4h

Lamentations – 20m

Ezekiel – 3.75h

Daniel – 1.25h

Hosea – 30m

Joel – 12m

Amos – 25m

Obadiah – 4m

Jonah – 8m

Micah – 20m

Nahum – 8m

Habakkuk – 9m

Zephaniah – 10m

Haggai – 7m

Zechariah – 40m

Malachi – 11m

Matthew – 2.5h

Mark – 1.5h

Luke – 2.5h

John – 2h

Acts – 2.25h

Romans – 1h

1 Corinthians – 1h

2 Corinthians – 40m

Galatians – 20m

Ephesians – 20m

Philippians – 14m

Colossians – 13m

1 Thessalonians – 12m

2 Thessalonians – 7m

1 Timothy – 16m

2 Timothy – 11m

Titus – 7m

Philemon – 3m

Hebrews – 45m

James – 16m

1 Peter – 16m

2 Peter – 10m

1 John – 16m

2 John – 2m

3 John – 2m

Jude – 4m

Revelation – 1.25h

Read, Hear, & Do it.

1) Sit down and read the Bible today.

2) Read it aloud so you can hear it better.

3) Get with someone else and listen to them read it.

4) And then grow in doing what it says.

Receive God’s Promises

I’ll leave you with two biblical promises related to reading, hearing, and obeying God’s word:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

— Jesus in Matthew 7:24-25

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.